The online catalog includes the most recent changes to courses and degree requirements that have been approved by the Faculty Senate, including changes that are not yet effective.
vetmed.wsu.edu
Veterinary and Biomedical Research Bldg (VBR) 207
509-335-7675
Interim Director, Associate Dean, Associate Professor S. Gizerian; Associate Professors, K. McBride, T. Sabato.
Public Health is the field invested in the protection and improvement of the health of people and the communities they belong to. The goals of the field are to promote and support healthy lifestyles, understand disease, educate about injury prevention, and detect, prevent, and respond to the threat of infectious diseases. Overall, it is concerned with the health of population groups, from small neighborhoods to large countries or entire regions of the world. WSU’s Public Health faculty is engaged in research with numerous foci including epidemiology, women’s health, vector-borne disease, and HIV. Public Health sponsors the Bachelor of Science degree at the undergraduate level.
The undergraduate program for majors is designed for students interested in preparing for a career in the broad realm of public health, including medicine and other healthcare professions, health education, environmental health monitoring, health policy and administration, and more. Graduates earning the BS degree in Public Health are well prepared to enter the workforce in the public health arena of their choice, or attend graduate or professional school, pursuing an MPH, PhD, or a professional health degree such as MD, DVM, or PharmD.
The infectious disease option leverages the expertise of the Washington Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory and the Paul G. Allen School for Global Health on the Pullman campus. In addition to core courses in population health, health systems, methods, biostatistics, health communications, environmental health administration, and community health development, students in the infectious disease option will be educated in epidemiology, infectious disease testing, vaccinology/vaccine development, data management, statistical analysis, and bioinformatics. Similarly, the behavioral health option with its emphasis on addiction science would leverage existing expertise at WSU Spokane and WSU Vancouver. In addition to the core curriculum as described above, students will be educated in fundamental tenants of behavioral health, the theoretical underpinnings of substance use disorder, the complex interactions between physical and mental health, and the behavioral antecedents and correlates of chronic health conditions.ed pre-PT/OT or pre-PA specialist in the HPSC.
Student Learning Outcomes
- Locate, use, evaluate, and synthesize public health information to inform evidence-based decision making and drive impactful interventions.
- Effectively communicate public health information, in both oral and written forms and through a variety of media, to diverse audiences.
- Analyze the various cultural contexts in which Public Health professionals operate including factors that influence public health-related practices, beliefs, and behaviors within diverse communities.
- Develop proficiency in navigating ethical decision making within the realm of Public Health to benefit the well-being of both individuals and communities.
- Advocate effectively for protection and promotion of the public’s health, demonstrating a comprehensive understanding of strategies and policies essential for promoting the well-being of communities.
Transfer Students
Transfer students must satisfy all of the program requirements for graduation. Courses taken at other institutions will be evaluated and credits accepted where possible. Students who are planning to transfer to the Public Health program at Washington State University from other institutions should review their academic plans with a Public Health program advisor to establish a schedule of studies leading to the bachelor’s degree prior to transfer in order to minimize the time required at Washington State University to complete bachelor’s degree requirements. This is desirable because equivalent coursework to the required PUBHLTH courses is not available at many other institutions. Inquiries concerning specific questions are welcomed. Transfer students are strongly encouraged to enroll in math and chemistry classes at the appropriate level to meet the program requirements prior to transferring. Inquiries should be directed to the Interim Director.
Schedules of Studies
Honors students complete the Honors College requirements which replace the UCORE requirements.
Public Health - Community and Behavioral Health Option (120 Credits)
| First Year | |
| First Term | Credits |
| BIOLOGY 106 or 107 [BSCI] | 4 |
| CHEM 101 [PSCI] | 4 |
| ENGLISH 101 [WRTG] | 3 |
| PUBHLTH 101 [HUM] | 3 |
| PUBHLTH 105 | 3 |
| Second Term | Credits |
| BIOLOGY 106 or 107 | 4 |
| CHEM 102 | 4 |
| HISTORY 105 [ROOT] | 3 |
| PUBHLTH 102 | 4 |
| Second Year | |
| First Term | Credits |
| H D 205 [COMM] | 4 |
| PSYCH 105 [SSCI] | 3 |
| PSYCH 110 | 3 |
| STAT 212 [QUAN] | 4 |
| Second Term | Credits |
| Arts [ARTS] | 3 |
| H D 350 [DIVR] | 3 |
| PSYCH 265 | 3 |
| PSYCH 320 | 3 |
| PUBHLTH 250 | 3 |
| Complete Writing Portfolio | |
| Third Year | |
| First Term | Credits |
| COMSTRAT 478 | 3 |
| NEP 200 | 3 |
| PHIL 365 | 3 |
| PUBHLTH 301 | 3 |
| SOC 340 [EQJS] | 3 |
| Second Term | Credits |
| ANTH 405 | 3 |
| PUBHLTH 305 [M] | 3 |
| SOC 334 | 3 |
| SOC 368 | 3 |
| Public Health Electives1 | 3 |
| Fourth Year | |
| First Term | Credits |
| NEP 477 | 3 |
| PUBHLTH 402 [M] | 4 |
| PUBHLTH 410 | 3 |
| Public Health Electives1 | 6 |
| Second Term | Credits |
| NEP 481 | 3 |
| PSYCH 468 | 3 |
| PUBHLTH 470 | 4 |
| PUBHLTH 490 [CAPS] | 3 |
Footnotes
| 1 | Public Health Electives (9 credits): Approved courses include: AMDT 317; ANTH 203, 205, 220, 268, 302, 304, 316, 350; BIOLOGY 307, 333, 340, 370, 395, 418, 469, 579; COM 471; COMHLTH 571, 572, 573, 574; CRM J 205, 330, 365, 380; H D 220, 300, 301, 302, 307, 310, 385, 403, 406, 410, 418, 430, 482; ENGLISH 310; ENTOM 340, 361, 448, 490; MBIOS 306, 320, 405, 410, 440, 442, 446, 548; MGMT 301; PSYCH 230, 265, 310, 320, 372, 390; SOC 300, 310, 317, 320, 351, 367, 536; SOIL SCI 568; WGSS 120, 300, 307. Other courses may be allowed by department consent. Courses may not be used to fulfill more than one requirement. Please see your advisor. |
Public Health - Infectious Disease Option (120 Credits)
| First Year | |
| First Term | Credits |
| BIOLOGY 106 or 107 [BSCI] | 4 |
| CHEM 101 [PSCI] | 4 |
| ENGLISH 101 [WRTG] | 3 |
| PUBHLTH 101 [HUM] | 3 |
| PUBHLTH 105 | 3 |
| Second Term | Credits |
| BIOLOGY 106 or 107 | 4 |
| CHEM 102 | 4 |
| HISTORY 105 [ROOT] | 3 |
| PUBHLTH 102 | 4 |
| Second Year | |
| First Term | Credits |
| H D 205 [COMM] | 4 |
| MBIOS 303 | 4 |
| PSYCH 105 [SSCI] | 3 |
| STAT 212 [QUAN] | 4 |
| Second Term | Credits |
| Arts [ARTS] | 3 |
| H D 350 [DIVR] | 3 |
| MBIOS 304 | 3 |
| MBIOS 305 | 3 |
| PUBHLTH 250 | 3 |
| Complete Writing Portfolio | |
| Third Year | |
| First Term | Credits |
| PHIL 365 | 3 |
| PUBHLTH 301 | 3 |
| Public Health Electives1 | 3 |
| SOC 334 | 3 |
| SOC 340 [EQJS] | 3 |
| Second Term | Credits |
| ANTH 405 | 3 |
| COMSTRAT 478 | 3 |
| PUBHLTH 305 [M] | 3 |
| Public Health Electives1 | 3 |
| Fourth Year | |
| First Term | Credits |
| MBIOS 440 | 3 |
| PUBHLTH 402 [M] | 4 |
| PUBHLTH 410 | 3 |
| Public Health Electives1 | 3 |
| Electives | 2 |
| Second Term | Credits |
| PUBHLTH 470 | 4 |
| PUBHLTH 490 [CAPS] | 3 |
| Public Health Electives1 | 3 |
| Electives | 6 |
Footnotes
| 1 | Public Health Electives (12 credits): Approved courses include: AMDT 317; ANTH 203, 205, 220, 268, 302, 304, 316, 350; BIOLOGY 307, 333, 340, 370, 395, 418, 469, 579; COM 471; COMHLTH 571, 572, 573, 574; CRM J 205, 330, 365, 380; H D 220, 300, 301, 302, 307, 310, 385, 403, 406, 410, 418, 430, 482; ENGLISH 310; ENTOM 340, 361, 448, 490; MBIOS 306, 320, 405, 410, 442, 446, 548; MGMT 301; PSYCH 230, 265, 310, 320, 372, 390; SOC 300, 310, 317, 320, 351, 367, 368, 536; SOIL SCI 568; WGSS 120, 300, 307. Other courses may be allowed by department consent. Courses may not be used to fulfill more than one requirement. Please see your advisor. |
Minors
Public Health
Courses
The online catalog includes the most recent changes to courses and degree requirements that have been approved by the Faculty Senate, including changes that are not yet effective. Courses showing two entries of the same number indicate that the course information is changing. The most recently approved version is shown first, followed by the older version, in gray, with its last-effective term preceding the course title. Courses shown in gray with only one entry of the course number are being discontinued. Course offerings by term can be accessed by clicking on the term links when viewing a specific campus catalog.
Public Health (PUBHLTH)
101 [HUM] Introduction to Public Health 3 History and philosophy of public health as well as its core values, concepts and functions across the globe and in societies.
102 (Effective through Summer 2025) Introduction to Public Health Methods 4 (3-3) Course Prerequisite: PUBHLTH 101 or concurrent enrollment. Basic concepts, methods, and tools of public health data collection; use and analysis of evidence-based approaches in public health practice.
105 Professional Development in Public Health 3 Exploration of careers and professional skills in public health.
105 (Effective through Summer 2025) Careers in Public Health 3 Exploration of careers in public health with faculty.
110 Social and Environmental Determinants of Health 3 Socioeconomic, behavioral, biological, environmental, and other factors that impact human health and contribute to health disparities.
120 Introduction to Health Systems Organization 3 Fundamentals of the US health system and comparison to other global systems; concepts of legal, ethical, economic, and regulatory dimensions; influences and responsibilities of governmental agencies in public health.
202 Research Methods in Social and Behavioral Sciences 3 Introduction to essential concepts and strategies in planning, designing, and implementing research studies in the social and behavioral sciences, including public health; analysis and evaluation of quantitative and qualitative research methodology in public health research.
210 Introduction to Global Health 3 Introduction to Global Health 3 Introduction to key global health topics including the distribution and burden of disease; global health systems and policies; evidence-based interventions; global health equity; critical examination of historical and contemporary global health science and practice. Typically offered Fall.
220 Chronic and Infectious Diseases 3 Exploration of both newly emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases including the ways in which disease organisms interact with and alter each other and their environments.
230 Principles of Epidemiology 3 Applications of epidemiologic methods and procedures to the study of the distribution and determinants of health and diseases, morbidity, injuries, disability, and mortality in populations.
240 Introduction to Environmental Health 3 Exploration of the complex interactions between human health outcomes and the physical environment, including core concepts in sustainability and the built environment, energy and transportation, food systems and security, climate and natural disasters, environmental racism, justice, and ethics, One Health, and emerging challenges.
250 (Effective through Summer 2025) Health Systems 3 Course Prerequisite: PUBHLTH 101. Fundamentals of the US health system and comparison to other global systems; basic concepts of legal, ethical, economic, and regulatory dimensions; influences and responsibilities of governmental agencies in public health.
301 Community Health 3 Concepts of population health and the basic processes, approaches, and interventions that identify and address the major health-related needs and concerns of populations.
301 (Effective through Summer 2025) Population Health 3 Concepts of population health and the basic processes, approaches, and interventions that identify and address the major health-related needs and concerns of populations.
305 (Effective through Summer 2025) [M] Social and Environmental Determinants of Health 3 Course Prerequisite: PUBHLTH 301. Socioeconomic, behavioral, biological, environmental, and other factors that impact human health and contribute to health disparities.
310 Foundations of Health Behavior 3 Introduction to the behavioral change theories that are most commonly applied in public health practice, including individual, interpersonal, and community-level theories.
330 Health Policy, Law, and Ethics 3 Exploration of the legal and ethical issues impacting the administration and delivery of health care services; examination of health policy and the government's role in health and in the provision of health care.
402 [M] Public Health Interventions 3 Course Prerequisite: PUBHLTH 202. Fundamental concepts and features of public health interventions; project implementation planning, assessment, and evaluation.
402 (Effective through Summer 2025) [M] Advanced Public Health Methods 4 (3-3) Course Prerequisite: PUBHLTH 102. Advanced research methods in public health; fundamental concepts and features of project implementation including planning, assessment, and evaluation.
410 Organization and Administration in Public Health 3 Course Prerequisite: PUBHLTH 110. Organization and administration of public health programs and policies.
410 (Effective through Summer 2025) Public Health Administration 3 Course Prerequisite: PUBHLTH 305. Organization and administration of public health programs and policies.
470 (Effective through Summer 2025) Statistical Methods in Public Health 4 (3-3) Course Prerequisite: PUBHLTH 402; STAT 212. Application and understanding of statistical methods in public health.
490 [CAPS] [M] Public Health Capstone 3 Integration of broad topics from public health and other fields to inform scientific and technical writing and presentation of independent research projects.
490 (Effective through Fall 2025) [CAPS] Public Health Capstone 3 Integration of broad topics from public health and other fields to inform scientific and technical writing and presentation of independent research projects.
495 Public Health Internship V 1-3 May be repeated for credit; cumulative maximum 4 credits. Course Prerequisite: By department permission. Internship with a public health agency, a nonprofit organization, or a private sector company that aligns with the student's chosen career path. S, F grading.
499 Special Problems V 1-4 May be repeated for credit. Course Prerequisite: By department permission. Independent study conducted under the jurisdiction of an approving faculty member; may include independent research studies in technical or specialized problems; selection and analysis of specified readings; development of a creative project; or field experiences. S, F grading.